Harris looked at her.
"Because the people responsible made sure nobody would."
THE MAN WHO NEVER LEFT
Harris moved closer to David.
"How did you find it?"
David glanced down at the bag.
"An anonymous message."
"From whom?"
"I don't know."
"What's inside?"
David looked at the lieutenant.
"You're not going to like the answer."
Harris rubbed his forehead.
"Just tell me."
David slowly untied the top of the bag.
Jessica watched carefully.
Inside was a smaller waterproof case wrapped in layers of black plastic.
David removed it.
The case was scratched, dirty, and marked with an old evidence label.
Harris leaned closer.
Then his face changed.
He recognized the label.
"Where did you get that?"
David didn't answer.
Harris looked at the printed number.
His breathing became noticeably heavier.
"That's impossible."
Jessica looked between them.
"What?"
Harris didn't respond.
He was staring at the label.
David finally spoke.
"Evidence number 4417."
Harris swallowed.
"That case was destroyed."
"That's what the records say."
"David, I personally signed the destruction report."
David looked at him.
"Exactly."
The lieutenant stepped back.
Jessica noticed his hand trembling.
"Sir?"
Harris looked at her.
"Officer, I need you to return to your vehicle."
Jessica frowned.
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
David suddenly raised his voice.
"No."
Both officers turned toward him.
David looked directly at Harris.
"She stays."
Harris's expression hardened.
"David, this is not the time."
"She already saw the evidence."
"She doesn't understand what she's looking at."
"Then explain it."
Harris lowered his voice.
"You don't know who else is involved."
David's expression became colder.
"Neither do you."
For several seconds, the two men stared at each other.
Then David slowly opened the metal case.
Inside were several photographs.
An old security access card.
A small digital recorder.
And a folded document sealed inside a transparent evidence pouch.
Jessica leaned forward.
The first photograph showed three men standing beside the Northbridge maintenance building.
The second showed the same three men being escorted toward a black vehicle.
The third photograph was different.
It showed Lieutenant Harris.
Standing beside the vehicle.
Jessica looked up.
Her eyes widened.
"Lieutenant..."
Harris immediately reached for the photograph.
David pulled it away.
"Don't."
Harris stopped.
Jessica stared at him.
"Sir, why are you in this photograph?"
Harris didn't answer.
David slowly placed the photograph on top of the case.
Then he said:
"Because he wasn't just the officer who signed the destruction report."
He looked at Jessica.
"He was the last person who saw those three men alive."
THE WARNING
Jessica took a step backward.
"Lieutenant, is that true?"
Harris stared at David.
"You don't know what happened that night."
David nodded.
"You're right."